Do you plant a garden? Do you grow your seedlings? Do you use Heirloom seeds, Hybrid seeds?
I have recently been looking into these different types of seeds. When growing my garden in the past I have not given much thought to what type seeds I bought. If it looked good and the description sounded like a vegetable we would eat then I planted it! I bought quite a few of my starter plants...What veggies I planted from seed I bought them each year never giving thought to saving my own seeds....
Wellllllll now I am finding myself interested in saving my own seeds. I have learned that saving seeds is something you do with Heirloom seeds. Now I probably know just enough about all this to be dangerous so this is not a indepth how, where, why kinda of post :O)... its more a overview :O).... its my understanding that if your going to save your own seeds then Heirloom seeds are the way to go. They are open pollinated (bees etc.)... they are not cross polinated plants to create a plant (Hybrid). ( I think I said that right)
Apparently if you save Hybrid seeds you can get different plants and veggies than you did the first year and in some cases not much success at all from those saved seeds.... But Heirloom seeds you can save and get the same exact plant and veggy you grew the year before with very good success :O).
Heirloom also means seeds that are rare and have been around a very very long time thus Heirloom, some of the seed companies will give a history blurb of where and when they were first known to be, its pretty cool... Lots of these seeds produce what are not your average everyday looking squash or tomato they are quite unique or different than the norm... which I find pretty cool and I think will be more fun to grow!...Lets face it gardening is a lot of work, enjoyable yes but still a lot of work and when its 105 outside and your in the garden, a pretty blue skinned squash just might make it seem a bit more fun... or a tomato that is black cherry in color! Yep I think that would make me smile even on a day its 105 :O)...
Apparently the Hybrid seeds can be more disease resistent to certain diseases etc. than the heirlooms. They can also be bred for higher production etc. So yes there are certainly good qualities to Hybrids as well.
I think there is room in my garden for both Heirloom and Hybrid. Though I do think I am going to lean heavier toward Heirloom from here on out. I like the idea of having seeds that I saved and not having to buy seeds every single year. I like most people who garden have a box of seeds but as I use up what I have I will be ordering Heirlooms mostly I think. I ordered a few for this year and am excited to see how it goes.
I also like the idea that one would always have a food source if they have their seeds and the ability to save them year after year! Not that we are in that type situation but I guess that appeals to me in some basic self sufficient way :O)...
So if you have never looked into Hybrid verses Heirloom... check into...see what you think? If nothing else there are some very cool vegetables in Heirloom seeds. A lot I bet you have never had, I promise you will not find most of those vegetables at your super market!
